Lollapalooza India 2026: Playboi Carti, Yungblud, Fuji Kaze, Ankur Tewari and more light up the stage on Day 1

Lollapalooza India 2026 opened its gates on Saturday at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse, as Day 1 of the festival brought together global headliners, Indian talent and tens of thousands of fans for a genre-spanning celebration of music and culture.

Now in its third consecutive year in India, the festival is promoted and co-produced by BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment arm of BookMyShow, in partnership with Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell and global producers C3 Presents.

Playboi Carti headlines with first major India set

Hip-hop star Playboi Carti led the Day 1 lineup, marking his first major appearance in India. Joined by members of his Opium collective, Destroy Lonely and Homixide Gang, Carti powered through tracks such as FE!N!, Pop Out, Timeless and If Looks Could Kill, turning the main stage into a densely packed, high-energy spectacle.

British artist YUNGBLUD followed with a raw, high-octane set built around fan favourites like Zombie and Hello Heaven, while Japanese singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze delivered one of the day’s quieter highlights with a piano-led performance of Shinunoga E-Wa, drawing one of the festival’s most emotional responses.

Electronic, indie and alternative acts light up the evening

The electronic stage came alive with Knock2, who dropped festival edits of Dashstar, while synthwave favourites The Midnight leaned into nostalgia with Sunset and Los Angeles. Canadian band Mother Mother sparked mass singalongs with Hayloft.

UK artists Hamdi and Hot Milk added to the diversity of the lineup with punchy sets featuring Push and Breathing Underwater respectively.

Indian artists take centre stage

Indian musicians made a strong showing across stages. Ankur Tewari & The Ghalat Family performed Gehraiyaan, while MU540 energised the dance arena with USD, e USD. Gauley Bhai won over audiences with Sanglanga Dooby.

Discovery remained central to the festival experience, with sets from Zoya, Pho, Still in Therapy, Nate08, Rounak Maiti, Sijya and Sunflower Tape Machine drawing steady crowds through the day.

Food, art and festival design draw crowds

Beyond music, the Lolla Food Park emerged as a major draw, featuring over 70 food brands. Festival-goers queued up for specially curated dishes such as Bheja Roll by Bademiya, Strawberries and Cream by Bachelors, Lolla Lava Noodles by Bang Bang Noodles and Pushpa Pizza by Bad Boy Pizza.

The venue itself doubled as an art installation, with large-scale features including the Lollapalooza Inflatable, Perry Farrell’s Shaman, the Lolla Garden, and interactive photo zones. The Alternative Stage stood out as a visual focal point, while the merchandise area saw strong demand for lineup T-shirts, hoodies, bucket hats and themed collectibles.

Focus on accessibility and sustainability

Organisers also highlighted sustainability and inclusivity initiatives, including structured waste management, electric vehicles for internal transport, dedicated viewing decks for persons with disabilities, trained accessibility teams and a child safety programme. Public transport access via metro, train and Cityflo buses helped manage crowd movement.

As the first night wrapped up, anticipation shifted firmly towards Day 2, which is set to feature Linkin Park’s debut performance in Mumbai, promising another packed chapter in Lollapalooza India 2026’s run.